CHAPTER 1

“Congratulations Kate.” Her mother’s voice vibrated in the room.  Kate stared at her wedding dress and blinked back tears. 

“Thanks mum.  This is the happiest moment of my life.  I can’t believe it yet.”

Her mother smile got wider, “You better believe it or do you need me to pinch you.”

Nodding eagerly, she said, “Please, do pinch me, I need to make sure this is real and not something I dream up.”

She felt a pain in her hand and screamed, “Ouch! This is real, mum.  It’s real.  I’m getting married to Ken Hart.”

Dreams do come true.  If Katherine was asked the question if dreams comes true, she would answer with a wide smile on her face.  Hers came true when she had lost hope about it.   She twirled round in front of the mirror with a wide smile, “How do I look?”

“You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”  Her mother’s eyes shone from unshed tears.   She hadn’t expected her only daughter to get married at the young age of twenty-one, but she was the only one that could save their company.  And getting married to Ken Hart was their only solution.  “You look the happiest today.”

Katherine nodded in excitement, “I am happy, mum.  I am getting married to Ken.  I feel like I have achieved everything I wanted in this life.”

Her mother smiled, and assisted her with her remaining dressing.  The only reason she had agreed to this marriage was because she was aware of Kate’s longtime crush on Ken.   If she was going to get married to someone, it would be best if she marry one she was attracted to.  “Let’s make haste.  We don’t want to keep your future husband waiting.”

Excitedly, Kate dashed off towards the limo.  Her father gave her a sad smile, and sat beside her.   He knew exactly who he was giving his daughter to, but Kate had no idea.  Yet, he couldn’t tell her anything about him, because it was part of the deal. The last person he did want to offend was Ken Hart.  He was way out of his league in every way.

“How do you feel, princess?” He asked her.  Just maybe, if Kate was happy, it would aid his conscience. 

“Happy, Dad.” She threw her hand around her father.  “Thank you, dad.  I’m so glad you agree to my marriage with Ken.”

Her father nodded, remaining silent all the way to the chair.  Kate had no idea while he was silent, but she was too excited to know anything going on anyway.  She bounced on her chair, all the way to the church, picturing Ken’s face in her mind.  He must be as excited as she was.  He had always cared for her when she was younger.  He had always called her his princess.  She had literally fall for him the first time she saw him, and she was just thirteen then.  Ken was eighteen then, five years older than her.  But, love knows no age right.

The ride to the church was fast, and soon her father was assisting her to the altar.  She smiled as she glanced at the congregation that came to celebrate them.  They weren’t much because the marriage had happened so fast. 

They weren’t even engaged to each other.  When she saw ken standing at the front in his smart tux, looking handsome.  Her heart skipped a beat.   How could he remain handsome till now?  He was literally every lady dreams, and he was going to be hers in a matter of hours.   He wasn’t smiling or looking at her.  He was glancing at his wrist watch, and Kate wondered why. 

Her father handed her over to Ken with a tight smile on his lip.  Kate smiled wide at him, and kissed his cheeks before he left to occupy his seat at the front.  Her mother was already seated.  

As the priest read off their vow, Kate could barely register the words he was saying.  The only thoughts reading in her mind were how their first night as a couple would be.  She would finally get to kiss him.   She would sleep beside him every night. 

He would be the first thing she woke up to see.  She was lost in thought that she had no idea what the priest had asked her to say ‘I do’.  A little nudge from Ken had brought her back.

She smiled wide, “I do.” And clipped the ring on his finger.   Ken said his, and put the ring in her hand. 

“By the power vested in me.  I pronounced you, Husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”  The priest announced.

Kate bounced on her feet.  She had been expecting this part.  She moved closer to Ken with her lips pushed out.  Ken glanced at his watch again, and then moved to drop his lips on hers.  Immediately, he withdraws his lips as if hers was biting him.  Kate frowned.  Was that it?   That was her wedding kiss.  She narrowed her eyes at ken that was now looking at the door as if he couldn’t wait to escape from the church.  What was going on?

Maybe he was shy.  Yet, she hadn’t tagged Ken as the shy type.  She had read about him in newspapers and magazines.  They had tagged him as a playboy.  Every time she purchased the papers, she knew her heart was going to be broken, but she was eager on any news regarding Ken.  So, she hadn’t mind.  So, why couldn’t he kiss his own bride properly?

The few people around came to greet them congratulations.  Ken held her hand to his, and she smiled again. He hadn’t spoken to her, but he had introduced her to people she didn’t know as Mrs. Hart.

Mrs. Hart.

She loved the sound of that in her ears.  She had written it in her jotters countless times secretly, but now she could openly refer to herself as Mrs. Ken Hart.  She blushed.  

Ken must have noticed it because he asked, “Are you okay?”

She nodded eagerly.  She was more than okay.  She was excited. 

Ken finally excused them from people congratulating them.  Kate had spent minutes hugging her parents.  She didn’t cry because she was going to where she had always wanted to be.  For so long, she had visualized wherever Ken was as her home.  Ken waited patiently for her to say her goodbye, and then assisted her into their car.

The moment they were in the car, he let out a sigh of relief.  He spoke to the driver through the intercom in the car, “Jack, do you think I can still meet up for that meeting.”

Jack’s voice vibrated in the car almost immediately.  It was as if he had been expecting that question. “Of course, Sir.”

Ken nodded.  “You will drop me at the company, and drop Mrs. Hart at the mansion.”

Kate blinked having no idea what was happening.  She turned to face her husband. “You are not going home with me?”

He shook his head, “I have an important meeting I can’t miss.”

She stared at him confused, “But it’s our wedding day.  Are you supposed to be working?”

Ken raised a brow, “Are you telling me I don’t know what I am doing?  I told you the meeting is important.  If I miss this, then there will be a lot of consequences I don’t want to deal with in the future.  Jack will take you to the mansion.  The head maid knows what to do.  She would show you your room.”

Kate shook her head, “I want to go with you.   I don’t want to go to our house for the first time alone.”

Ken groaned.  This was the problem with marriage.  You don’t just make decision for yourself any longer, there was someone to consider while making your decisions. “It will be best for you, if you follow my instructions.  Jack will take you home, while I conduct the business I have.”

Kate blinked having no idea what she was supposed to say.  Her husband didn’t want to spend their wedding day together.  She was supposed to just go home, and do what?

Soon, the car stopped and Ken left.  He didn’t say another word to her.  He didn’t tell her when he was going to back.  He didn’t kiss her bye.  He just left.  Before, she could say anything; Jack drove the car leaving Ken back looking smaller through the car mirror.

Kate felt lonely.  Was that how their wedding was going to be?